Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George Semple and Mary Louisa (nee James) Semple of Strathalbyn; husband of Maxine Adelaide of 2 Kent Street, Keswick, SA; brother of Zena May Semple and Hugh Maxwell Semple who also served in WW2

Plane was Boston A28-15 which was attached to the 22 Squadron was shot down in the vicinity of Gasmata

15 November 1943 - the Commanding Officer of 22 Squadron wrote to Maxine Semple saying that Douglas was gunner on the plane which was attacking Gasmata in a daylight raid. On the return home flight the pilot radioed that it had been shot up and was going to do a forced landing in the sea. It landed safely and three out of the crew of five climbed into a dinghy and the plane sank. The fate of the crew is not known as there was a heavy presence of Japanese in the area at the time. It is known that only two crew members actually made to shore, neither were Douglas

Douglas George Semple, the youngest of three children of George and Louisa Mary Semple formerly James was born at Strathalbyn South Australia on 6 November 1923.

He was brought up on his fathers fruit orchard on the northern side of Strathalbyn with this sister Zena May, his brothert Hugh Maxwell and his cousin Vernon William Semple who was taken in at the age of four months after the death of his mother Nellie on 15 December 1926.  Nellie was Louisa's sister and George was the brother of Vernon's father William. George Semple served in the Boer War. Hugh Maxwell ( Max ) served in the Army and Vernon in the RAAF during WW2. Vernon always considered Douglas has brother.

Douglas was educated at Strathalbyn Primary and High School.  On leaving school he became an apprentice tailor with Bell's Tailoring in Strathalbyn.

Douglas enlisted in the RAAF on 11 June 1940.  His date of birth is recorded on his service record as 6 November 1921. While in the RAAF Douglas married Maxine Adelaide Menz.  They did not have children.

Douglas served as a Flight Sergeant with 22 Squadron RAAF (Bostons) stationed on Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea. He formed the crew of Boston A28-15 with Flight Lieutenant Harry Blinman Dawkins and Flight Sergeant Gordon Ronald Thomas.

On 12 September 1943 four aircraft from 22 Squadron including Douglas's aircraft A28-15 took off from Vivigani airfield on Goodenough Island on a barge sweep. After having completed the barge sweep the four aircraft bombed Gasmata. Of the four aircraft three were lost with one escaping though damaged. 

Douglas's aircraft was shot up and crashed into the sea approximately 35 miles south of Gasmata. Reports suggest Flight Lieutenant Dawkins, Flight Sergeant Thomas and Douglas were seen in their dingy after the crash but no further reports were received. 

It is known that Flight Lieutenant Dawkins and Flight Sergeant Thomas reached shore and were captured by the Japanese.  Both died as prisoners of war. The fate of Douglas is unknown. His family were hopefull he might be found but it was not to be.